Rick Hodes, a physician and humanitarian who has spent nearly 30 years helping care for the poor in Africa, will discuss his work and sign copies of his biography, “This Is a Soul: The Mission of Rick Hodes,” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in Sacramento. He’ll be at Time Tested Books, 1114 21st St. (between K and L streets).
On Saturday, Hodes will be the commencement speaker at the UC Davis School of Medicine ceremony.
Friday’s event is open to the public and benefits Hodes’ work in Ethiopia. Admission is $50 general and $20 for students, and includes a signed copy of the biography.
Born in Long Island, N.Y., and educated at John Hopkins, Hodes has dedicated his life to helping heal the sick and poor of Ethiopia. Many of his patients are stricken with tuberculosis of the spine, a disease that creates massive humps on the backs of its victims.
“This Is a Soul” tells the story of his journey from suburban America to Mother Teresa’s clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and his work with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, in which he serves as its medical director in Ethiopia. Hodes and his work were the subject of the 2009 documentary, “Making the Crooked Straight.”
For more information, contact Charlie Casey at (916) 734-9048 or [email protected]